Last Minute Raheem Devaughn Concert: Just What the Doctor Ordered

(photo by Khadijah Ali-Coleman. All rights reserved)

Ok, yes, it was last minute. Yes, it was a blatant political ploy to solidify voter support in an upcoming DC Ward councilmember election. But, yes, it was a good idea-- one enjoyed by those who were lucky enough to get the heads-up early enough to make plans to attend.

Washington DC Councilmembers Yvette Alexander and Kwame Brown-- representing one of the historically disenfranchised areas of DC-- southeast-- were savvy enough before the voter polls opened to give the people what they wanted for the moment-- music.

Kicking off the show which was held in Fort Dupont Park in the Ward 7 area of DC, was the band Black Alley which is a soul funk band that plays weekly at the venue Artmosphere which is a fast-becoming an arts beacon for those in the DC metro area. Playing a mix of India.Arie and Erykah Badu covers, the band gave us samples of their own originals which were worthy listen-tos that were augmented by the strong front vocals of the lead singer KC and the dope synergy of the band members (the drummer was on fiyah!)

Raheem Devaughn came out last with his Radio Raheem shirt and his vocals ablaze as the ladies stormed the front fence to get a closer look and a possible grope. Raheem's audience appears to be getting younger as his song "Customer" travels the airwaves, but those of us in the late twenty and thirties age bracket-- and especially those of us from DC and Baltimore-- remember his early performances with the likes of Fertile Ground, opening shows for Amel Larrieux and his mixtape and early album where he was compared to Marvin Gaye.

The event was enjoyable, hosted by WPGC's Romeo and the Street Team.